The Region

Higher than normal flow for the fourth straight year from the Colorado River may result in additional water for Southern California, water officials say. "It's really an unprecedented situation," said Myron Holburt, assistant general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which supplies wholesale water to agencies supplying 13 million Southern Californians. The high river is welcome news to the MWD, because the recently opened Central Arizona Project will take more than half the Colorado River water that has been going to Southern California, Holburt said. Although limited flooding has occurred on the river during the last three years, including this year, federal reclamation officials say a repeat of the 1983 floods is unlikely.